Sony Press Conference - Live Coverage

[Peench]

I'm sitting down in a prime aisle seat waiting for the Sony Press Conference to start. The conference is being held at Sony's Culver City studio. The setup is awesome with 3 huge screens and plush carpets and seats.

I'm interested in hearing what Sony has to offer right now. From the Killzone event last night I understand that the game is probably too early in development to be released this holiday. So what will the holiday push be? Games? Home? I'm interested in finding out. I'll post notes live!

[Peench]

Home has been revamped based on user feedback during the beta. Focus started with Home stuff, but then said he was going to focus on demonstrating games, games and more games (almost 50 titles for PS3, PSP, and PSN). They want to continue legacy of leadership. After presentation they will allow us to play some of the games.

On Monday announced 80GB PS3 for $599 designed for fan of downloadable content with Motorstorm packed in. 60GB now $499.

Kicked off conference with discussion of PS2. Install base of 118 million worldwide, sales of 26 billion. God of War II sold more than 2 million copies, continued to fuel PS2 platform and will soon do the same for PSP. Social gaming like Buzz and Singstar coming to PS2 also.

Then chatted about PSP. Building on strong momentum following price move. Retailer and consumer response has resulted in 90% increase since announcement over pre-price drop. UMD sales grow 35% since 2006. They want to ship 9 million PSP’s this year. More than 140 games coming to PSP this fiscal year in North America.

[Peench]

Global announcement to introduce the world to the evolution of the PSP – 33% lighter than the current PSP and 19% slimmer and battery is more efficient. Faster loading of games as well. Can output high quality video as well. Complete home and outside portable video gaming system that can be used on road and hooked up to TV so everyone can enjoy the content on your PSP.

[Peench]

PS3’s DLNA will allow you to access any of your media on your PC thru your PSP and PS3. Access any media on your PS3 from any hotspot using the PSP.

Additional colors for PSP are also coming here in North America. Piano Black, Ice Silver. Will come with UMD movie, game and 1GB memory stick duo for $199.

Another color, star wars battlefront renegade squadron; white PSP with Darth Vader on back. Retail in October for $199.

[Peench]

New enhanced model of PSP is coming out in September.

PSN – Home, Store, Free online gamplay, communications, PSP/PS3 connectivity.
More than 20 million downloads since launched globally. Key is content, that’s Sony differentiates itself.

Developing content for downloading is better b/c every PS3 has a large hard drive and no limitations placed on developers (i.e. like MS). More than 80 games in development thru end of March next year. 5 of them that best demonstrate their strategy.

1. Echochrome - For PS3 and PSP. Least graphics and most gameplay. Puzzle games that make you feel like you are in an Escher lithograph. Move the model around to help the character get thru and to the various destinations. Very odd but looks like it could lead to loads of gameplay.
2. Wipeout HD – 60FPS, full HD
3. Pain –
4. Warhawk
5. SoCom US Navy Seals

[Peench]

Home client now runs on a mobile phone. Following on heels of Live Anywhere. Home Square is replacing the lounge that people were used to seeing on Home. Launching new spaces for people to buy and customize. Embedded casual game and social elements into the home square. Took a photo from phone, can send them directly from the phone and have them appear automatically in your home apartment. Can also take a digital photo and push it out to a PC website running on a browser. Outputs to a social networking site that will include news and blogging. Ability to launch any game from your PS3 directly within home. We asked for it and Sony provided – very nice!

[Peench]

When you quit the multiplayer game it takes you right back into the home space. Open Beta for consumers coming this fall.

[Peench]

PS3 – goals this year: 1) broaden install base, 2) deliver wide variety of game services and content takes advantage of advanced features of PS3.

Shooting for 11 million units shipped worldwide this year.

Lair comes in at 25 Gigs of data. Could only be done with BluRay. Bluray also trumping HDDVD 2:1. Blockbuster’s decision reaffirms BluRay is storage of future.

Over 200 bluray disc games this year worldwide and 180 for the PSN. North America, gets 120 of them, and exclusives from their own in house development teams.

NC Soft joins Playstation camp exclusively. Is Sony heading towards MMO games? Whatever it is, it will be exclusive. Current and New IPs!

[Jon Liu]

Awesome stuff! Thanks Peench!

[Peench]

Ubisoft bringing new franchise: Haze. This holiday, exclusive to PS3. Looks very cool.

Epic and Midway – Unreal; Multistage deal. Full optimization of unreal engine to take full advantage of PS3 technology to assist developers in using the Unreal engine to create better games for the PS3. Unreal Tournament 3 confirms as PS3 exclusive. Ability of gamers to bring user created mods from PC version to PS3 thru PSN. Wow!

[Peench]

Unreal to be released November 2007.

[Peench]

Upcoming titles:

Call of duty 4
Assassin’s Creed
Kane and Lunch, Dead men.
Resident Evil 5
Burnout Paradise
Madden NFL 08
Harry Potter and Order of Phoenix
The Simpsons Game
Guitar Hero III
Medal Of Honor: Airborne
Rock Band

[Peench]

Last 3rd party exclusive they want to show – franchise has been a fixture. Celebrating 20th anniversary this year. Exclusive to PS3 – MGS4.

[Peench]

Metal Gear Solif 4 will be grand finale and final of the series.

[Peench]

Sory about Snake will end in this game.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Originally Posted by Peench

Metal Gear Solif 4 will be grand finale and final of the series.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


Thanks for the reporting, Jimbo!